The above pictures are mochi from a fancy shop in downtown SF. Minamoto Kitchoan. The Mochi is imported from Japan. My pal Reiko is from Japan and she says these are the best mochi in the city. I disagree. I like the Mochi that is made right here in Japantown in a little diner at a place on Sutter st called Benkyodo. The mochi is super fresh and they have mochi that is coated in fresh ground soy flour. The diner menu is classic Americana and there are always old Japanese dudes in there reading the paper, drinking coffe and eating stuf like fried eggs and french toast kinda stuff. But the Mochi is seasonal and sometimes has whole pieces of fruit inside. Noo Joke!

There is a song on the CD version of Charles Mingus' Tijuana Moods called Colloquial Dream (aka Scenes In The City) with spoken word by Lonnie Eldger, written by LangstonHughes. Not on the LP, you can hear a short excerpt here.